November20, 2018

WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding reports that the Trump Administration is considering adding Venezuela to the State Sponsor of Terrorism List:

“According to press reports, the Trump Administration is preparing to add Venezuela to the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. If the President intends to do so, he must demonstrate that Caracas has ‘repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism,’ as the law requires. Thus far, I have seen no evidence of this. This morning, I asked the State Department to provide the Foreign Affairs Committee with written evidence demonstrating that Venezuela meets the criteria in the statute.

“Make no mistake: President Maduro is a cruel dictator who violates the human rights of the Venezuelan people on a daily basis. We must continue to hold him and his cronies accountable while also ensuring that President Trump does not continue his heartless deportation policy towards Venezuelans living in the United States. At the same time, the State Sponsor of Terrorism list must be used judiciously to maintain its seriousness and integrity, and countries added must meet the legal standard.”